Soaking-pit cover.



Patented Aug. 20, I901.

i INVENTOR,

L. H. GORDON.

SOAKING PIT COVER.

Am 1; nflld-I 25 won No. 68|,II5.

WITNESSES:

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS H. GORDON, OF ALLEGHENY, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO ALEXANDER LAUGHLIN, OF SEWICKLEY, PENNSYLVANIA.

SOAKlNG-PIT COVER.

. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 681,115, dated. August 20, 1901.

Application filed Tune 26, 1901. $erial1io- 65,992. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, Louis H. GORDON, of Allegheny, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Soaking- Pit Covers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to that class of blank-heating furnaces known as soakingpits, wherein blanks or ingots are stood on end whilebeing heated.

More or less time and difficulty are in-- times in twenty-four hours it is necessary that the work be capable of accomplishment in the. shortest possible space of time and with the least annoyance to the repairer. Heretofore it has been possible to repair only one side of the bottom, while the cover was allowed to remain partly over the pit as a protection to the workman, its entire removal being necessary to make bottom on the other side, and this is objectionable because of the intensity of the heat. The cover is usually moved back and forth by the reciprocation of a piston, and it is desirable to limit the latter, so that the'full stroke will exactly move the cover into position to close the pit independent of the skill of the operator, since otherwise the casing surrounding the cover may be burned out if the movement be too far forward.

The object of this invention is to provide, in connection with actuating means the full stroke of which will so move the cover as to completely open and close the pit, means to allow the cover to be moved forward, so that the, pit-bottom may be repaired on both sides from opposite points without entirely removing the cover from the pit. 4

The invention will be hereinafter fully set forth, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a soaking-pit cover and its operating mechanism. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the cover positioned to permit of making the bottom at the left-hand side of the pit.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the 5 5 cover; 2, the supporting-wheels; 3, the rails therefor, and 4 the soaking-pit, a portion only of which latter isshown. The body of the cover is composedof suitable refractory material and a surrounding casting or casing 5. The cover is moved back and forth over and away from the pit by the reciprocation of a piston 6 in a cylinder 7. The rod 8 of this piston is so connected to the cover that the latter in its normal outward position under the full stroke will fit directly above pit 4, thus protecting the surrounding casing 5 from injury by the direct action of the heat. In making bottom the cover is either entirely removed or only partly withdrawn rearpartly over the pit the operator can make bottom only on the right-hand side that is, the side nearest the piston-cylinder.

To permit the operator to work the bottom at the left-hand side and at the same time be shielded or protected by the cover standing 8o partly over the pit, I provide casing 5 with a bracket 9, formed with a central space between two parallel sides 10. A removable bolt 12, inserted through these sides and an opening 13 in piston-rod 8, limits the normal 8 5 outward movements of the cover, as seen in Fig. 2 5 but when it is desired to work the bottom at the left hand side the bolt 12 is withdrawn, and the piston being moved backward until a second hole 14 in the extreme 0 end of the piston-rod is brought in line with the bolt the latter is inserted through said hole, so that the forward movement of the piston will position the cover, as shown in Fig.- 3, leaving a space between the cover and 5 the pit sufficient to permit of repairing the bottom toward the left-hand side. When the bottom-maker completes his work, the piston is actuated sufficiently to permit of again coupling its rod to bracket 9 by the insertion I00 of bolt 12 through hole 13. When this connection is made, the covercannot slide too far forward and 'nodanger canarise from inattention'on'the partof the pulpit boy. -It is obvious that any number of holes may be made in the piston-rod. It is essential, how-- ever, that the normal connection between the rod and the cover be suchthat the latterwill not ordinarily be moved too far -for-ward,-andg yet the connection must be capable of ready adjustment to permit of an extra forward throw when it is necessary to make bottoms; In repairing the bottom at the right-hand or inner side the workman stands at what may be termed the left-hand or outer side While in repairing the bottom at the left-hand; side he stands at the right or inner side and works through the opening formed by the ad-", ditional movement imparted-to the cover.

The advantages of my invention a-reapp'ar-i cut to those skilled in the art. It will be;

noted also that by securing the end of the;

piston-rod between the parallel sides of "the; bracket not'only is the extra lengthof the? rod'held out of the wayybut lateraldeflection between which the end of tlie rod is designed j to fit, and a removable bolt for uniting the rod to the bracket at anyone-of a plurality of points, substantially as set forth.

as set forth.

3. The combination with a soaking-pit, and a cover therefor, of means for actuating the cover comprising a piston having its rod 6 I formed with a plurality of holes, a bracket extending from the cover having parallel sides In testimony whereof I 'have signed this specification in the presence of -two subscribing witnesses.

LOUIS H. GORDON.

Witnessesz' O. W. COFFMAN, A. K. MOMILLEN. 

